Oak Creek Fitness

How to Choose a Personal Trainer-A Guide to Making an Informed Decision so Results Come Quickly and Last Forever

OK,
you’ve decided it’s time to “get in shape”.

Finally,
you’re ready to look better and feel better the sensible way – through
nutrition and exercise. Because time and experience has shown you the truth:

Diets don’t work, ab gizmos don’t work, and infomercials
are a joke.

You're
finally ready to get real and transform your body once and for all.

You’ve
heard the amazing success stories, watched many a late night episode of
“Extreme Makeover”, read about the celebrities’ secret weight loss weapon…

And have
decided to seek out the guidance of a personal
trainer.

But not
all personal trainers are created equal, so how do you find the right personal
trainer for YOU?

1.
They must be certified by a nationally accredited institution.

The gold standards for
certification agencies are the American Council on Exercise, National Strength and
Conditioning Association, and American College of Sports Medicine.

A qualified trainer should
at minimum have a certification with one of these agencies. But that just means
they’ve passed the “baseline of standards” to call themselves a personal
trainer. It does not mean they are good at what they do or can deliver a
specific result. There is a big difference between a “trainer” and a “fitness
professional”.

2.
They should do more than just “take you through a workout”.

A top quality fitness
professional does more than just “take you through a workout”. Anyone can count
to 15 and hold a clipboard.

Look for a coach who will
educate you about all the components necessary to achieve optimal health and a
fitness result. Your trainer should review nutrition education with you,
educate you about proper supplementation, review resistance training (whether
that be balance training, core work, stability balls, medicine balls, etc.) and
cardiovascular exercise to maximize fat burning, improve your flexibility to
avoid injury and speed recovery, and really walk you through all the steps that
encompass the “mental development” side.

Goal setting, putting
together a plan of action, and then holding you accountable and supporting you
through the entire process is absolutely critical to your success.

3.
Ask for proof of results.

A top fitness pro should be
able to do more than just talk about results. They should be able to prove they
deliver. Ask for proof of clients’ results. Do they have before and after
photos of clients, testimonials, references? Can you speak with a client to
inquire about their experience working with them? If a fitness pro can’t offer
this kind of concrete proof, be careful.

4.
Ask for a guarantee.

According to a Consumer
Reports study, there is more dissatisfaction in the diet industry than any
other industry. That’s crazy. Think about it: if you took your car to a
mechanic, you’d expect it to be fixed, not come back with two or three pings
and a loose belt!

Working with a fitness
professional should be the same as any other industry. If they aren’t willing
to guarantee your results, find someone who will. Spending your time and energy
without a guarantee of results is like going to that terrible mechanic!

Don’t waste your money – or
more importantly your time – working with someone who can’t offer an iron-clad
guarantee of your success.

5.
Look for someone who will empower you for life!

A great fitness coach does
more than just help you achieve your goals. A true professional teaches you the
foundation of knowledge so you will no longer be lost in the “sea of confusion”
when it comes to all the diet and exercise hype.

The foundation of knowledge
and correct technique you’ll learn will allow you to maintain your results for
life!

Jim and Lori Success

Lori1. What made you decide you wanted/needed to start a program?I wanted to lose some weight and work on gaining some muscle strength. TheKickstart Program seemed to offer the perfect plan for that. The complete programoffered that and so much more.

2. What results have you achieved since starting your program.After 4 weeks of being on the program and sticking to the exercise &amp; nutrition plan: Ilost almost 5 pounds of Body Fat Mass (lbs). I gained 0.3 in Skeletal Muscle Mass(lbs). I lost 2% Body Fat. My BMI dropped 0.8%.

3. What do you like best about our program/having a trainer?The best part of having a trainer is having someone to hold you accountable. Timgave you that extra push when needed. He gave you the confidence to succeed.He will push you and motivate you. You walk away knowing that you are able to domore when you put your mind to it. The workouts were challenging and because ofthat came the good results. You will increase your strength and build lean muscle. Inever walked away after the workouts and had regrets about working out. Felt goodand challenged but very happy to see that I could better myself each time.

4. What would you say to someone on the fence about joining our program?Give the program a try. The 4-Week KickStart Program is enough to start you onyour path to health and wellness. The weight loss and building of strength are theresults you can look forward to achieving. Give yourself a head start for the NewYear. I am happy with my results. This will inspire me to continue on my path tobetter health and weight loss.

Jim

1. What made you decide you wanted/needed to start a program?Having never done weight training, I knew I needed help to get started. This seemed like theperfect way to get started with that and also lose some weight at the same time.

2. What results have you achieved since starting your program.After 4 weeks of being on the programs and sticking to the exercise &amp; nutrition plan:I lost 8 pounds of weight and almost 6% of Body Fat Mass (lbs). I gained 3 pounds in SkeletalMuscle Mass.

3. What do you like best about our program/having a trainer?Having a trainer with the knowledge that Tim has I knew he could jump start me in the rightdirection. He pushed me in the 4 week program to limits I didn't think I could reach. I was doingweights I never imagined when I signed up. The workouts were challenging but the feeling youleft there with afterwards made you want to continue. Results were seen in very little time. Itwas easy to tell from the start Tim was there to guide me along and make sure I wouldsucceed.

4. What would you say to someone on the fence about joining our program?For anyone thinking about getting started just give it a try. When you can see results like Iachieved in just 4 weeks you know it was well worth it. It's not just the training and exercise butlearning the nutrition part of the program is something you will take home with you and useforever. It's one of the best decisions I ever made.

Meghann R. - 24 Years Old

Meghann has not only lost 20 pounds on the scale but she has found a new passion for health and fitness that she will carry on for years to come!

What made you decide you wanted/needed to start a program?

I’ve always been active, whether it was playing tennis or practicing martial arts for a number of years, but I never truly focused on nutrition. After being in a car accident that left me with a back injury, it became difficult to keep up my participation in the activities that I enjoyed. Fast forward through four busy years of college where staying fit and eating well had taken a backseat, I realized that I needed a routine to stick to that would keep me focused and motivated. My boyfriend and I decided to start a program together with the intention that we’d be each other’s support and keep each other on track.

What results have you achieved since starting your program?

I’ve lost a significant amount of weight, but what I gained is far more important. About two months into the program, it become less about the numbers on the scale will carry on for years to come! and more about working toward being happier and healthier. I became focused on what I could do rather than what I couldn’t do, and in the process I discovered power-lifting, so I started training for my first power-lifting meet. This program has been incredibly rewarding because I feel fantastic and so much healthier, and I’ve loved learned more about nutrition and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. I was able to safely train through an existing back injury, and now I’m feeling stronger than ever. So if you only look at the numbers, the scale will say that I’ve lost about twenty pounds and 8% body fat, but the scale won’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed this entire journey or how excited I am to keep going.

What do you like best about our program/having a trainer?

The best part about the program is the support and encouragement, and it comes from every staff member at Oak Creek Fitness. The environment is fantastic; it feels as if everyone is cheering you on. You get out of this program what you put into it, but you get someone coaching you every step of the way. They want you to succeed just as much you do. My boyfriend and I work with Tim, and he always keeps the training sessions fun and interesting. When I said I was interested in competing in a power-lifting meet, he changed our training program and worked with both of us to improve our strength and still continue working toward our weight loss goals. He’s incredibly patient, knows exactly what he’s doing, and it’s great to work with someone who is enthusiastic and truly loves their job. He definitely went above and beyond to help us reach our respective goals.

What would you say to someone on the fence about joining our program?

We are told so often, “You only get one body, so treat it well,” and that’s exactly what you should do. Invest in a personal training program that will give you all the tools to take care of yourself and keep yourself healthy long after you’ve completed your program. You won’t regret it. This was the best investment that I’ve made and I’m so glad that I’ve found a new hobby and lifestyle that I can enjoy for years to come.

Todd Pfander

Todd has lost 30 lbs while training with Tim. He looks and feels so much better as he improves his health and longevity.

What made you decide you wanted/needed to start a program?

I’ve always liked exercising. But, I had my left knee replaced in 2012 and gained about 45 pounds. I found myself getting extremely lazy. When I exercised, I started cutting it short. I saw no results at all. Then, I started watching the trainers at Oak Creek Fitness and realized that they were doing great things with their clients. I decided that I wanted the same results.

What results have you achieved since starting your program?

I started with Tim in April of 2017. (I weighed 252 pounds on April 1, 2017.) Today is September 18, 2017. I now weigh 222 pounds, and I am a lot stronger.

I’ve gone down four inches in the waist of my pants!

I’ve set personal bests in the squat, bench press, and deadlift.

I’m a competitive ski racer and anticipate better results this coming winter simply because I’m stronger and much less “bulky!”

I just “feel” better!

What do you like best about our program/having a trainer?

Tim works with me to set goals that are realistic and achievable. He has shown me how to eat correctly in order to feel full while also losing weight.

Tim is friendly, patient, and truly knows his physiology. That makes a huge difference when trying to progress.

What would you say to someone on the fence about joining our program?

If you are even thinking about a trainer, you must see some benefit in it. I say “try it.” The worst that will happen is that you don’t like it. If that is the case, stop. But, I think you will find that you were right all along. Having a trainer makes you more accountable to yourself. No one else can do that for you.